Fact Sheet: Crown Witness Coordinators in Canada’s Three Territories

The Crown Witness Coordinator (CWC) program is unique to Canada’s three northern territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The three territories have the highest crime rates in Canada for all Criminal Code offences; police-reported data from 2023 are included in each territory’s fact sheet. The territories cover a huge amount of land with difficult weather conditions, limited road access (many communities are accessed by air only) and limited supports and resources due to the remote locations of communities. All of these factors add to the challenges of delivering trauma-informed victim services in a timely way to victims of crime.

Across the three territories, there are approximately 20 CWC and 50-60 federal Crown prosecutor positions within the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) offices. The offices, however, are often understaffed. CWCs locate, support, and prepare crime victims and witnesses for their role in the prosecution of crimes. They act as liaisons between the Crown prosecutor and victims and witnesses, keeping all those involved in a case apprised of developments and situations which could impact it. CWCs provide information about and encourage the use of Victim Impact Statements (VISs), assist in the arrangement of testimonial aids, attend court with victims/witnesses and follow up with them, as necessary. CWCs also arrange referrals to other support services. An evaluation of the CWC program was released in April 2024 (see Evaluation of the Crown Witness Coordinator Program).

The CWCs kept manual records during 2020–2022 so data from the full calendar year of 2021 are presented here. No data about gender or age of the victims served were collected.

Northwest Territories – 2021

For the calendar year 2021, a total of 2,185 files were opened, with or without victims. Out of that number, 644 – or just under one third (29%) – files had victims. The majority (n=470) of the cases were assault, including uttering threats. Sexual assault was the second highest offence type recorded in the case files (n=42) and there were four homicides. Other cases were for property crimes and “other” which includes child pornography. In 422 of the cases opened, CWCs provided information on Victim Impact Statements and restitution to victims. No data were collected on testimonial aids. Over the course of the 12 months in 2021, CWCs made or attempted to make 3,160 contacts with victims.

Yukon Territory – 2021

In 2021, a total of 1,216 files were opened in Yukon. Out of those, 332 files or 27% of the total, had victims. The majority (n=215) of the cases were assault with another large number for property crimes (n=149), followed by sexual assault (n=30) and homicide (n=4). In 124 of the files opened, CWCs provided information on Victim Impact Statements and restitution to victims. In 2021, CWCs made or attempted to make 1,277 contacts with victims.

Nunavut – 2021

In 2021, a total of 3,096 files were opened in Nunavut. Out of those, 1,241 files – or 40% – had victims. The majority (n=949) of the files involved physical assault, followed by sexual assault (n=111) and there were four homicides. Other crimes included property crimes and “other” (child luring, voyeurism and child pornography). In 474 of the files opened, CWCs provided information to victims on Victim Impact Statements and restitution. Over the course of the 12 months in 2021, CWCs made or attempted to make 1,404 contacts with victims.